Design and fabrication of a hybrid alginate hydrogel/poly(ε‐caprolactone) mold for auricular cartilage reconstruction

Abstract

The aim of this study was to design and manufacture an easily assembled cartilage implant model for auricular reconstruction. First, the printing accuracy and mechanical properties of 3D‐printed poly‐ε‐caprolactone (PCL) scaffolds with varying porosities were determined to assess overall material properties. Next, the applicability of alginate as cell carrier for the cartilage implant model was determined. Using the optimal outcomes of both experiments (in terms of (bio)mechanical properties, cell survival, neocartilage formation, and printing accuracy), a hybrid auricular implant model was developed. PCL scaffolds with 600 μm distances between strands exhibited the best mechanical properties and most optimal printing quality for further exploration. In alginate, chondrocytes displayed high cell survival (~83% after 21 days) and produced cartilage‐like matrix in vitro. Alginate beads cultured in proliferation medium exhibited slightly higher compressive moduli (6 kPa) compared to beads cultured in chondrogenic medium (3.5 kPa, p > .05). The final auricular mold could be printed with 300 μm pores and high fidelity, and the injected chondrocytes survived the culture period of 21 days. The presented hybrid auricular mold appears to be an adequate model for cartilage tissue engineering and may provide a novel approach to auricular cartilage regeneration for facial reconstruction. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1711–1721, 2019.

Preparation and evaluation of physicochemical properties of novel alkaline calcium alginate hydrogels with carbonated water

“…Owing to its biocompatibility and gelation with divalent cations such as calcium ions, 3 alginate has been extensively studied for application in drug delivery systems, 4 wound dressing, 5 and tissue engineering. 6 Alginate comprises guluronic acid and mannuronic acid residues. During alginate gelation, the calcium ions cross-link with the guluronic acid blocks of alginate, forming "egg-box" structures.…”

“…Alginate is a suitable polymer for forming hydrogels; it is a naturally occurring polymer extracted from brown algae. Owing to its biocompatibility and gelation with divalent cations such as calcium ions, 3 alginate has been extensively studied for application in drug delivery systems, 4 wound dressing, 5 and tissue engineering 6 . Alginate comprises guluronic acid and mannuronic acid residues.…”

Tissue engineering applications in otolaryngology—The state of translation

“…Heatmap representing the proportion of publications by year that utilized specific translational research methodologies from construct characterization to human trial to investigate otologic tissue engineering 15,25‐35,38‐43,45,46,107‐144 …”

“…Hydrogels possess high water content and elasticity, making them better mimics of human tissue than other synthesized materials. Investigations into hydrogels have sought to optimize the ratio of materials used to comprise the gels, and have shown their cartilage‐forming potential through in vitro and in vivo studies 41‐43 . Of particular interest, hydrogels can be combined with 3D‐printed molds to form a TE construct that better recapitulates the native auricle.…”

“…When a costal cartilage graft is used to reconstruct the auricle, the cartilage can calcify, causing it to thicken and deform 44 . Visscher et al addressed this problem by adding both a 3D‐printed poly‐e‐caprolactone mold and collagen scaffold to a cell‐seeded hydrogel, and demonstrated creation of contraction free constructs in vitro 43 . Others have shown longer in vitro culture of a construct prior to in vivo implantation reduces contraction in vivo 40 .…”